Engineers and Scientists from the Water Industry and Senior Executives from Utilities, Academia and Think Tanks all agree that much of our drinking water infrastructure is nearing the end of its useful life.
The American Water Works Association (AWWA) based their estimate at $1 trillion. This would be the cost to replace every pipe over the coming decades. These numbers seem frightening, right? Historically, large infrastructure projects have cost overruns. Case in point, the SF-Oakland Bay Bridge, which opened on Tuesday, September 4th 2013 had a cost of $6.4 billion. The original cost estimate was $1.4 billion.

My two biggest concerns are the following:

1. Funding – We must commit to Water Infrastructure funding in America.
2. Lack of funding is leading to a decrease in Water Technology and Innovation.

The following is a list of U.S. Patents in Water and Wastewater Treatment from 2003 -2012. The total number is 1,449.

% increase in numbers of U.S. water-related patents from 2003 to 2012:

153/131 = 1.17 = 17%

Let’s examine the Total U.S. Patents from 2003-2012. The total number is 253,155.

TOTAL U.S. PATENTS 2003-2012:

The following table displays annual, U.S. patent application from 2003 to 2012

The increase in total U.S. Patents from 2003-2012 is 50%. Sadly, U.S. Water Patents, at a 17% increase are not keeping pace with America’s technology revolution. We must continue to be advocates of U.S water infrastructure funding for innovators and entrepreneurs who have a market for their products.